Dublin hope to sway Mayo

DUBLIN FOOTBALL:AFTER THE success of Saturday night's Dublin-Kerry Allianz League fixture, which attracted more than 23,000 to Croke Park, Dublin officials haven't given up hope of persuading Mayo to agree to staging the counties' Division One fixture on Friday fortnight, March 18th, at headquarters.

It has been confirmed back-channel communications with Mayo took place at the weekend, but the Connacht county has an under-21 championship fixture against Roscommon scheduled for McHale Park on the following day Saturday, March 19th.

As things stand, the match is scheduled for Croke Park on the Sunday of that weekend, a slot that is considered a lot less likely to attract the sort of crowds that have attended the first two “Spring Series” matches against All-Ireland champions Cork and Kerry – an average of nearly 30,000. The push for the Friday date is based on a busy sporting schedule over that weekend.

Thursday, St Patrick’s Day, is the traditional date for the AllIreland club finals, and two days later in rugby’s Six Nations Ireland face England in a potential Triple Crown and Grand Slam decider.

“I would be sceptical about it, as things stand,” according to Dublin chair Andy Kettle, “but it’s a pity if it doesn’t happen, for two reasons – it would be interesting to see what the appetite is for Friday night matches, and it would slot into a great sporting week with Cheltenham, the club finals and the rugby all taking place.”

The experience of the floodlit matches to date has been greatly helped by the form of Dublin’s footballers, who are three from three and on course to qualify for a first league final in 12 years.

Also, the equally bright start to the year by the county hurlers was maintained at the weekend by victory in the Walsh Cup final against Kilkenny.

Kettle says the county will make approaches to Croke Park to see if it would be possible to stage all three of next year’s home league matches in football on double bills with the hurlers. “So far we’ve a very solid base to build on and we’d like to take that forward.”

One area of concern, however, is the possibility of disciplinary action being taken against full forward Eoghan O’Gara, who is seen on television footage making head contact with Kerry defender Marc Ó Sé. The incident escaped the attention of referee Marty Duffy and consequently can be raised by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee.

Were they to decide a foul had taken place, a minimum suspension of eight weeks, under Rule 7.2 Category III, would be proposed, although the player could opt for a full hearing before the Central Hearings Committee.